Sen. Richard Ross votes for fiscal 2015 budget

State Sen. Richard J. Ross, R-Wrentham, joined with the Senate in approving the Conference Committee's state budget recommendation for fiscal 2015 this week.

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Milford Daily News

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Posted Jul. 2, 2014 at 10:42 AM
Updated Jul 2, 2014 at 10:53 AM

Posted Jul. 2, 2014 at 10:42 AM
Updated Jul 2, 2014 at 10:53 AM

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State Sen. Richard J. Ross, R-Wrentham, joined with the Senate in approving the Conference Committee's state budget recommendation for fiscal 2015 this week.

As one of the six members of the conference committee, and the ranking Republican member on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Sen. Ross worked to broker a compromise between the Senate and the House versions of the legislation. The House of Representatives also voted to pass the Conference Committee budget this week.

"This budget is not perfect, but we as legislators came to a compromise on what we felt necessary for the commonwealth," said Sen. Ross. "My main goals with this budget were to contain spending and not raise taxes, but bring back assistance to the communities of my district through local aid, Chapter 70 education reimbursement, and programs that will benefit the hardworking taxpayers."

Though Ross voted in support of the overall bill, he offered a note of caution, saying "a prudent, sustainable budget should always be the focus of my colleagues as it is mine. There are many great aspects to this budget, especially protecting important programs and services, and returning precious tax dollars to our communities, but we cannot neglect fiscal discipline as we move forward."

Sen. Ross was pleased to see a number of local initiatives he had fought hard for incorporated into the budget, including a provision that would add the Lake Cochituate Head house (also known as the Gate House) in Wayland to the state Department of Conservation and Recreation's Historic Curatorship list. This would allow the Cochituate State Park Advisory Committee to enter into a public-private partnership in order to rehabilitate, manage and maintain the Gate House.

The budget also includes the creation of the Healthy Relationships Grant program, which will allow for innovative programs to address and prevent dating violence among Massachusetts teenagers.

This program was brought to Sen. Ross’s attention by Malcolm Astley of Wayland and Mary Dunne of Weston, parents of Lauren Astley and founders of the Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund.

The budget will now be sent for approval to Gov. Deval Patrick, who has 10 days to look it over.